MDR vs XDR vs EDR: Which Security Solution Does Your Business Need?

The alphabet soup of cybersecurity can be confusing. EDR, MDR, XDR, SIEM, SOAR—what do these all mean, and which ones does your business actually need?

This guide breaks down the differences between EDR, MDR, and XDR to help Vancouver businesses choose the right security solution.

Quick Definitions

• EDR (Endpoint Detection & Response): Software that monitors endpoints (laptops, servers) for threats
• MDR (Managed Detection & Response): EDR + human security analysts who monitor and respond 24/7
• XDR (Extended Detection & Response): Unified detection across endpoints, network, cloud, and email

EDR: Endpoint Detection & Response

What EDR Does

EDR solutions monitor your endpoints—laptops, desktops, servers—for malicious activity. They go beyond traditional antivirus by:

• Detecting behavioral anomalies (not just known malware signatures)
• Recording endpoint activity for forensic analysis
• Providing basic automated response (quarantine files, kill processes)

Popular EDR Solutions

• CrowdStrike Falcon
• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
• SentinelOne
• Carbon Black

EDR Limitations

EDR alone is not enough for most businesses:

1. Alert fatigue: EDR generates thousands of alerts. Without analysts to triage, real threats get lost.
2. Endpoint-only visibility: Attackers move laterally through networks, cloud, and email—EDR misses these.
3. No human expertise: EDR requires skilled staff to investigate and respond.
4. 24/7 gap: Your EDR runs 24/7, but do you have staff to respond at 3 AM?

MDR: Managed Detection & Response

What MDR Does

MDR = EDR + Human Experts

MDR providers monitor your security tools 24/7, investigate alerts, and respond to threats on your behalf. Think of it as outsourcing your security operations to experts.

Svalbard Security's MDR Includes

• 24/7/365 monitoring by certified security analysts
• 4.6-minute average response time
• Active threat containment (we don't just alert—we stop attacks)
• Threat hunting to find hidden attackers
• Detailed incident reports and remediation guidance

Why MDR Works for Vancouver Businesses

MDR makes sense when you:

• Have limited security staff (most companies)
• Can't afford to build a 24/7 SOC in-house
• Need compliance monitoring (PIPEDA, PCI DSS, HIPAA)
• Want expert response without hiring experts

MDR Limitations

• Still primarily endpoint-focused: Many MDR providers only monitor EDR tools
• Limited visibility: May miss cloud, network, and email threats
• Varying quality: Not all MDR providers are equal

XDR: Extended Detection & Response

What XDR Does

XDR expands beyond endpoints to provide unified detection across:

• Endpoints (laptops, servers, mobile)
• Network (traffic analysis, firewall logs)
• Cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP workloads)
• Email (phishing, BEC detection)
• Identity (suspicious logins, privilege escalation)

Why XDR Matters

Modern attacks don't stay on one system. A typical ransomware attack:

1. Starts with a phishing email (email layer)
2. Compromises an endpoint (endpoint layer)
3. Moves laterally through the network (network layer)
4. Escalates privileges via Active Directory (identity layer)
5. Exfiltrates data to cloud storage (cloud layer)
6. Deploys ransomware across all systems

EDR only sees step 2. XDR sees the entire attack chain and can stop it at any point.

Svalbard Security's XDR Capabilities

Our XDR platform provides:

• Cross-layer correlation: Connect events across all security layers
• Attack chain visualization: See the full attack path
• 90% fewer false positives: Intelligent correlation reduces noise
• Automated response: Contain threats in seconds
• Single pane of glass: Unified dashboard for all security data

MDR vs XDR: Head-to-Head Comparison

Which Solution Should You Choose?

Choose EDR If:

• You have a mature security team
• Budget is extremely limited
• You only need basic endpoint protection

Choose MDR If:

• You need 24/7 monitoring but lack staff
• Endpoints are your primary concern
• You want a cost-effective managed solution

Choose XDR If:

• You have cloud workloads (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• You need unified visibility across all attack vectors
• Alert fatigue is a problem
• You want the best detection and response capabilities

Choose SOCaaS + XDR If:

• You need complete security operations
• Compliance requires continuous monitoring
• You want enterprise-grade security without enterprise costs

Svalbard Security's Recommendation

For most Vancouver businesses, we recommend Managed XDR combined with our SOCaaS:

1. Unified visibility across all attack vectors
2. 24/7 monitoring by Vancouver-based security experts
3. 4.6-minute response time to active threats
4. Compliance coverage for PIPEDA, PCI DSS, HIPAA
5. Cost-effective compared to building in-house

Not sure which solution fits your needs? Contact us for a free consultation and our security experts will help you choose.

Svalbard Security provides MDR, XDR, SOCaaS, and penetration testing services to businesses across Vancouver, British Columbia, and Canada. Learn more about our MDR services.